SIBI: At least 12 people were killed as a blast destroyed a bogie of the Jaffar Express at the Sibi railway station.
Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique confirmed the death toll to Geo News and said thirty people had also been injured in the horrific blast.
Saad Rafique said there were dead bodies inside the bogie. The minister condemned the cowardly attack of terrorists.
“There was aggressive patrolling in place at railway tracks after trains were being targeted. This could be a reaction to the FC operation which took place yesterday.”
The injured have been shifted to the Civil Hospital in Sibi.
The blast took place inside bogie no.9 of the Jaffar Express as it arrived at the railway station.
Divisional Superintendent Railways Quetta, Mohammad Ashraf said the Jaffar Express had arrived ten minutes ahead of schedule at the Sibi railway station. The blast took place prior to the security clearance of the train.
Mohammad Ashraf said following the blast the fire engulfed an entire bogie resulting in the deaths. He added the fire also spread to three other bogies of the train.
The nature of the blast is not known and Railways officials say they are probing the incident.
Frontier Corps personnel have cordoned off the railway station.
This is developing story and further details are awaited.